Mayyas gave Sofia Vergara a cedar tree necklace for 'America's Got Talent' final

'Lebanon is a country that's very close to my heart,' the actress said after the troupe's triumph

Sofia Vergara was given the cedar tree necklace by Mayyas after they won season 17 of 'America's Got Talent'. Photo: WireImage

Lebanese dance troupe Mayyas thanked Sofia Vergara for her support throughout America's Got Talent with a touching gift, a golden cedar tree necklace.

The judge, who fast-tracked the dancers to the semi-finals by using her golden buzzer during their initial audition, showed off the present when speaking to the media after the final.

"These girls were supposed to win," Vergara told a LBCI TV reporter. She then pointed to her necklace and said: "Look what they gave me ... it's beautiful."

The cedar tree is the national emblem of Lebanon, and features on the country's flag.

Vergara was then asked about the message of hope the dancers have sent back to Lebanon and about her own connection with Lebanese culture.

"I come from Barranquilla, Colombia, and in Barranquilla we have a gigantic community of Lebanese people," Vergara explained. "Like Shakira, for example, she's from Barranquilla.

"So we grew up eating Lebanese food, dancing to Lebanese music, it's a country that's very close to my heart. I am so happy that in moments of problems and troubles every once in a while something as beautiful as Mayyas comes up and distracts everybody.

"I am so happy that it's happening and I am glad; those girls deserve the world."

Scroll through the gallery below for highlights of Mayyas' 'America's Got Talent' journey

Host Terry Crews, far left, with members of the female Lebanese dance troupe Mayyas, who were crowned winners of the latest season of 'America's Got Talent'. AP

The Lebanese troupe will take home a $1 million prize and the chance to headline a Las Vegas show. AP

Mayyas react to the announcement they had won this season of 'America's Got Talent'. Getty Images

Kristy Sellars and Terry Crews react as Mayyas are announced the winners of season 17 of 'America's Got Talent'. Getty Images

America's Got Talent finale, from left, Mayyas, Terry Crews, Chapel Hart, Metaphysic, Drake Milligan, Kristy Sellars. Getty Images

Nadim Cherfan, centre, with the dance group Mayyas, winners of season 17. Getty Images

Mayyas perform during the 'America's Got Talent' finals on September 13. Getty Images

The co-ordinated dance featured white, feathered outfits and sparkling globes of light in a moody routine that won a standing ovation from the crowd. Getty Images

Appearing on 'America's Got Talent', the group have their sights set on winning the coveted $1 million prize. Getty Images

Terry Crews with Mayyas on stage. Getty Images

Mayyas attend an 'America's Got Talent' Season 17 live show at Sheraton Pasadena Hotel in California. Getty Images

Lebanese dance troupe Mayyas perform in the semi-finals of 'America's Got Talent'. Getty

Judge Simon Cowell said the performance was 'as good as it gets'. Getty

The group danced to a selection of Arabic melodies. Photo: YouTube

Lebanese dance crew Mayyas have appeared on season 17 of 'America's Got Talent'. Getty

Judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara said they felt 'hypnotised'. Getty

The Lebanese dance company won season six of 'Arabs Got Talent' in 2019. Photo: MBC

Mayyas celebrate with choreographer Nadim Cherfan (in black), after their ‘Arabs Got Talent’ win. Photo: MBC

Mayyas's 'Arabs Got Talent' win came with a new car and a 200,000 Saudi riyal ($53,333) cash prize. Photo: MBC

The group are known for their physical style, performed to Arabic melodies. Photo: MBC

At the time, Mayyas said they planned to use their 'Arabs Got Talent' cash prize to set up a dance studio. Photo: MBC

After winning 'Arabs Got Talent', they appeared on the UK spin-off 'Britain's Got Talent: The Champions' in 2019. Photo: Shutterstock

The group on 'Britain's Got Talent: The Champions'. Photo: Shutterstock

Before the final, #haabibatalmashaheer, which translates to the people's sweetheart, was trending in Lebanon with a photo of the Colombian actress. She gushed: "I need to go [to Lebanon]! Invite me!"

"The first thing I told them when I won is: 'You guys didn't need me, you were going to win AGT no matter what'," she said of the troupe.

"They were perfection, hard-working people with the most amazing talent and those girls, the world is opening for them right now and I hope and I promise I am going to go see them in Vegas, or wherever they are performing."

During their America's Got Talent audition, the group explained the meaning behind their name, saying it "is a word in Arabic that means the proud walk of a lioness".

Vergara also asked the group about life in Lebanon right now, to which they replied: "Lebanon is a very beautiful country, but we live a daily struggle."

Another dancer said: "Unfortunately, being a dancer as a female Arab is not fully supported yet."

When asked about their dream, they said that being there "on the biggest stage in the world" is their "only chance to prove to the world what Arab women can do, the art we can create, the fights we fight".

Sofia Vergara has previously worn clothes by Lebanese designers, including Zuhair Murad's Rise from the Ashes T-shirts. Photo: Instagram / Sofia Vergara

During the finale, Vergara wore a sequinned navy dress by Laura Basci, a Swiss fashion designer who lives in Los Angeles. Basci also designed the yellow dress she wore at the Emmy Awards on Monday.

Vergara is a long-time supporter of Lebanese designers and has worn pieces by Georges Chakra and Zuhair Murad in the past. In August 2020, she posted a photo of herself wearing one of Murad's Rise from the Ashes T-shirts, created to raise money for Beirut disaster relief.

See Sofia Vergara's style evolve — in pictures

Sofia Vergara, in an embroidered lace two-piece, attends the American Comedy Awards at the Shrine Exposition Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 6, 2000. Getty Images

Sofia Vergara, in a satin shirt and jeans, attends a screening of 'The Hot Chick' in Los Angeles, California, on December 2, 2002. Getty Images

Sofia Vergara, in a blazer and military-inspired trousers, attends an Escada fashion show and luncheon in Beverly Hills, California, on February 6, 26, 2003

Sofia Vergara, in a jersey two-piece, attends the Premios Juventud Awards at the James L Knight Centre on September 23, 2004 in Miami, Florida. Getty Images

Sofia Vergara, in an emerald wrap dress, at the Palazzo del Casino as part of the 62nd Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2005 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

Sofia Vergara, in a cornflower gown, arrives at the premiere for 'Four Brothers' at the 62nd Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2005 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

Sofia Vergara, in a printed midi, arrives at the premiere of 'The House Bunny' in Los Angeles, California, on August 20, 2008. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in a shift dress, and Cat Deeley attend the People's Choice Awards nominations in Los Angeles, California, on November 10, 2009. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in a one-shouldered dress, arrives for the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California, on November 22, 2009. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Carolina Herrera, arrives for the 16th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 23, 2010. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Roberto Cavalli, arrives for the 17th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 30, 2011. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Missoni, poses at the premiere of 'The Smurfs in 3D' in New York, US, on July 24, 2011. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Vera Wang, arrives for the 63rd annual Primetime Emmys Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on September 18, 2011. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Dolce & Gabbana, attends the premiere of 'Happy Feet Two' in Leicester Square on November 20, 2011 in London, England. Getty Images

Ariel Winter, Sarah Hyland, Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara, in Vera Wang, from 'Modern Family' at the 69th Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, on January 15, 2012. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Marchesa, Sarah Hyland, Julie Bowen and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons at the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 29, 2012. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Marchesa, arrives for the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on May 7, 2012. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Zac Posen, attends the Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Berkeley Square Gardens on May 29, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Sofia Vergara, in Michael Cinco, arrives for the 70th annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, on January 13, 2013. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Donna Karan, arrives for the 19th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 27, 2013. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Vera Wang, arrives for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on September 22, 2013. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Zac Posen, arrives for the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California, on January 12, 2014. EPA

Sofa Vergara, in Herve Leger, arrives at the 'Modern Family' photo call at The Sebel on February 20, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Sofia Vergara, in Roberto Cavalli, arrives for the 66th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on August 25, 2014. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Donna Karan, arrives at the 21st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 25, 2015. EPA

Sofia Vegara, in Georges Chakra, arrives for the premiere of 'Hot Pursuit' at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on April 30, 2015. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Marchesa, arrives for the Met Gala at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on May 4, 2015. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in St John, arrives for the 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on September 20, 2015. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Vera Wang, arrives for the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 30, 2016. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Marchesa, arrives for the 88th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 28, 2016. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Versace, arrives for the 68th annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on September 18, 2016. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Zuhair Murad, arrives for the 74th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California, on January 8, 2017. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Zuhair Murad, arrives for the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony at the Shrine Exposition Centre in Los Angeles, California, on January 29, 2017. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Mark Zunino, arrives for the 69th annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on September 17, 2017. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Ralph & Russo, arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 90th annual Academy Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on March 4, 2018. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Oscar de la Renta, at the premiere of 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' in Hollywood, California, on May 10, 2018. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Dolce & Gabbana, arrives for the premiere of 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on July 22, 2019. EPA

Sofia Vergara, in Dolce & Gabbana, attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 92nd annual Academy Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on February 9, 2020. EPA